Chapter VII - ARAHANTA VAGGA - The Worthy

Whether in village or in forest,in valley or on hill,1wherever Arahants dwell, - delightful, indeed, is that spot.[98]

VII:09 The youngest brother of Sariputta (Revata)

Revata was the youngest brother of the Chief Disciple Sariputta. He was the only one who had not left home for the homeless life. His parents were very anxious to get him married according to the custom prevailing in India at the time. Revata was very young when his parents arranged a marriage for him to a young girl. At the wedding reception, he met an old lady who was one hundred and twenty years old, and he realised that all beings are subject to aging and decay. With this realisation, he decided to join the Order of bhikkhus like his eldest brother, Sariputta. So, he left the house and went straight to a monastery where there were thirty bhikkhus. Venerable Sariputta had earlier requested those bhikkhus to admit his brother as a samanera should he come to them. Accordingly, they admitted him as a novice monk.

Revata took a subject of meditation from those bhikkhus and left for the forest, far away from the monastery. At the end of the vassa, Revata attained Arahanthood. Sariputta requested permission to visit his brother, but the Buddha replied that he himself would go there. So, the Buddha, accompanied by Sariputta and Sivali and many other bhikkhus set out to visit Revata.

The journey was long, the road was rough and the area was uninhabited by people; but the devas looked to all the needs of the Buddha and the bhikkhus on the way. Revata, learning about the visit of the Buddha, also made arrangements to welcome him. Using his supernormal power he created a special monastery for the Buddha and also suitable dwellings for the other bhikkhus, and made them comfortable throughout their stay there.